Rheumatic fever may affect heart
Tags:
Neglecting rheumatic fever might cost one dear, as it may lead to rheumatic heart disease, which damages heart valves. Apparently, the number of rheumatic fever cases has been on the rise in the country, and the city fares no better. For every 1,000 cases of rheumatic fever, 10 people are affected with rheumatic heart disease. Children in the age group of 5-15 are the worst affected, says Dr Ashwini Kumar Pasarad, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Manipal Hospitals.
A recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals that every year 6 million people suffer from rheumatic fever in the country and 2,33,000 of them die due to rheumatic heart disease. The incidence of rheumatic fever in developing countries like India, South East Asia and Africa is 27-100 per 1,00,000 per year and the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease is 6-11 per 1,000 cases of rheumatic fever every year.
Dr Ashwini says, “About 30-35% of the cases we handle are related to rheumatic heart diseases caused by rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever begins with a throat infection caused by streptococcus bacteria. Due to the infection, the body’s immune system turns overactive and damages many of the body's connective tissues — especially those of the heart, joints, brain and skin.”
School-going children, especially those between five and 15 years are susceptible to acute rheumatic fever. It is communicable and spreads through droplet infection usually from coughing and sneezing. If acute rheumatic fever is not identified on time, it inflames all layers of the heart and damages heart valves," he said.
Unhealthy environment, overcrowding and, to an extent, poverty have been the main reasons behind the increasing number of rheumatic fever cases in developing countries. Creating awareness among the public about rheumatic heart disease is required, Dr Ashwini said. “People who were already affected by rheumatic fever are more susceptible to recurrent attacks and heart damage and they are also at increased risk for developing infective endocarditis (an infection of the heart's lining or valves).”
Post new comment